Chang Speaks With Insider

In an exclusive interview with the Soccer Insider moments ago, D.C. United primary investor Will Chang shared his thoughts on Victor MacFarlane's exit from the ownership group, the outlook for a new stadium, the club's long-term future in Washington and, most importantly, his Lot 8 drumming skills.

He would neither confirm nor deny that MacFarlane got out because the prospects for a mixed-use development stadium project were dimming, saying only that "one of the owners decided to sell and focus on his business." In United's press release announcing the shake-up, MacFarlane was quoted as saying he would "devote greater attention to MacFarlane Partners [his primary business] and my projects in multiple cities coast to coast."

Chang said he and MacFarlane had been discussing the move for several months. "It was not spur of the moment," Chang added.

So much more good stuff on the continuation of this thread.....

General thoughts on his more prominent stake in the club.....

"Nothing's going to change. It's the same coaches, the same front office and I am still going to be the same guy having fun with the fans in Lot 8 at RFK, beating the drum with the Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles just like the old Will Chang."

Will he seek out new investors to join him?

"I'll keep myself open. I won't close myself to any discussions, but I'm not actively looking."

What are the current prospects for a new stadium?

"I was not directly involved in the stadium discussions in the past and I will have to interject myself and get caught up. [Team president] Kevin Payne will take the bulk of the load on the stadium front. I'm not going to take the point."

However.....

"I'm not looking for a big real estate deal as part of a stadium project. I'm looking for a bread-and-butter stadium [without ancillary elements]. I'm not looking for a Poplar Point project [with mixed-use development]. I am just looking for a home for this team. I want to go to a place that wants a stadium and wants us."

Does that mean looking outside the Washington area?

"My first and foremost priority is to find a home in the D.C. area. I have not been approached by anyone in any official capacity from any other city. We want to stay here. Is there a sense of urgency to get something done here? Absolutely. But I am under no time pressure. If it takes a little longer to get it done right, that's okay. ... I would like to move to a permanent home. Obviously, the economics would be more favorable for us than where we are now with RFK."

"I'm not looking for a big real estate deal as part of a stadium project. I'm looking for a bread-and-butter stadium [without ancillary elements]. I'm not looking for a Poplar Point project [with mixed-use development]. I am just looking for a home for this team."

"But I am under no time pressure. If it takes a little longer to get it done right, that's okay."

How many months is "several months?" I always thought of Chang being intersted in the team and not development, but it is interesting that Chang wasn't involved in the stadium and that he is very clear that a stadium is more important that mixed-use development.

The best news, I suppose, is that he sees no time pressure. That should squelch the St. Louis nonsense, for a while. Until Payne decides to turn up that pressure valve, again.

On the other hand, there is some urgency. RFK really is a pit -- and one that is not well-suited for soccer. I bought a season ticket this year to stay close to the front of the line, for a new stadium. Next year, I might return to the flexibility of the flex plan, or I might just decide it makes more sense to get a discount from scalpers or Craig's List sellers. The decline in attendance this year should be a cautionary note that the team needs to get a home that will feed fans' passion for the team.

Now bread and butter doesn't mean that there won't be the revenue generating portions such as suites and club seats. He's just saying that he doesn't intend to dip into stadium revenues as well as development revenues to feed his team. He wants a home for the team that will help it be a self-sustaining entity and capital spending will be at the owner's discretion.

However, I'm still calling for VfL Wolfsburg to FedEx the plans for VW Arena - put it at RFK or Poplar Point - PERFECT!

Then, ring up Dan Snyder. I will continue to state the best solution involves a joint venture for two new stadiums on the RFK site. The city won't say no to the Redskins -- they could name their price. And the two ownership groups could get the environmental remediation done, selling the project as the most environmentally-friendly way to site new stadiums and get started on cleaning the Anacostia.

The United finally have an owner who appears to be putting the focus on the team and the stadium as opposed to using the franchise as a tool to expand his development busines!!! Great news! Vamos Los United!!!

""I'm not looking for a big real estate deal as part of a stadium project. I'm looking for a bread-and-butter stadium [without ancillary elements].""

YES! Goodbye McF .... it's pretty apparent that I don't care if he's gone as I've said it over and over that he truly didn't seem to care about football, only his own Real Estate. Best of Luck McF, but . .

When I go to a nice restaurant, they serve me bread and butter before I get my steak or pasta.

I know some will say, why are we just now getting around to the opening course? Friends, this restaurant has a heckuva waiting list, and I for one am glad to be seated and sipping on my water with lemon, which is about all RFK is right now.

Chang's position is a big relief. It's good to hear that his focus is on DC United, not using DC United as a means to an end. I don't blame MacFarlane for doing that, but I feel a lot more comfortable with Chang at the helm.

Let's see what we can do with a stadium plan that doesn't require as much or more money for ancillary development. It will also be interesting to see how area officials react to the change, since there have been indications that MacFarlane was not on the best of terms with the Fenty administration.

I'm not going to start celebrating just yet, but I think our odds just got better.

Seciously, Big Will C doesn't need to confirm what is so freaking obvious:

Vickie V only bought in because of the real estate deal. When it went south, so did his interest in anything DC United. Goodbye. Hope that the doorknob hit him in the @ss when he rolled out.

Big Willie C became the fans' best hope in order to keep this team here after McFarlane realized that Popular Point and PG were NOT gonna happen.

It will be interesting to see if the Legend, Mr. Marion Barry will still care about DC United now that his hand picked guy has rolled out. His personal sense of "ownership" may have just left the building. We'll know by the tone of his rhetoric in coming months.

Now that the Mayor and Council are done fighting aover Nat's tickets they might actually have a moment to humor us when the budget gets done...

@Godfather -- it was a combination. I believe I'm correct in saying the Clark proposal was the only one that really offered the prospect of stadium. When they withdrew, there was no developer or prospect of development, to be sure. However, the remaining original bids didn't really include plans for a stadium. All of this came on directives from Fenty. So, the question is will this change make His Highness more active in supporting a stadium?

@me_shogo: Half? You're suggesting that half of the people there were paying attention to the game? I guess it's possible, as it was an extremely rare (for the Nats) exciting pitcher's duel. Usually, I don't think it's even 25%.

Someone suggested that Danny Snyder be contacted in the hopes that a combined Redskins-DC United initiative would be a win-win. But however well the Skins are doing finacially I think Six Flags (also Snyder) is or is soon to be in bankruptcy.

Sure there will be environmental work to be done, but the city should bear some of the cost of that.

Posted by: joe_hill | May 21, 2009 2:46 PM

I would say that the chances for working with RFK land may be slightly increased now that MacFarlane is not involved (Fenty may have hinted at this on ch. 4 last week). That said, an RFK deal would have to go through the city and DCSEC - we still don't know if Chang or Payne would want that. I would hope that their ears are open to just about anything that keeps the team in the city.

Until there is recogniztion by the tv media that there is such a thing as professional soccer in DC, not many people will care what is happening. Pressure, pressure, pressure is what will bring about a stadium. The Route 7/ Route 28 corridor in Virginia would be ideal as would any place in Fairfax/Loudoun. I have vowed to vote for no politician who does not support a Virginia soccer stadium and gets behind a push for same.

a stadium for United will NEVER be built in any of the RFK parking lots, or any of the Armory area, how does that idea not die the horrible death it so richly deserves? It's like a double-dose of herpes, it just won't go away.

"Never" might be just slightly too strong, but it is much more likely that I270Exit1 and I will end up owning half the team.

God willing, Fenty will be a long-forgotten footnote when Discovery Park (nice) opens. Everything the man touches turns to poo, and there are enough reasons to despise him apart from the Stadium issue... We need a champion who is bigger than all the Barries, Fenties, and whoever the blindingly inept PGC council member was (say it with me: "clean bill... clean bill..." c'mon, you can do it!) - DC's a pretty small town, maybe some smartie will get in the ear of its most famous (P)resident?

"Nothing's going to change. It's the same coaches, the same front office and I am still going to be the same guy having fun with the fans in Lot 8 at RFK, beating the drum with the Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles just like the old Will Chang."

By Steve Goff | May 21, 2009; 12:28 PM ET

Mr. Chang might want to take a look at Newcastle United and their owner, Fat Mike Ashley before he continues to be a "fans-first" owner. Whilst FMA was partying with the fans in the away end, the front office was busy (or not busy, depending how you look at it) building a squad that is threatened with relegation from the top league division on the planet. Not saying that will happen here, but DC United's darkest years coincided with Kevin Payne's movement within the AEG heirarchy, IIRC. If he leaves his position with the team, disaster is surely to follow.

Overall this seems like it is a positive for getting a stadium in the current economy. When the economy picks back up, there may be more opportunity for a mixed use development. But in KC their stadium is part of a mixed use plan like Poplar Point was supposed to be. They may have their stadium pushed back a year or two because it's part of a mixed use project and they can't get any retailers to sign up to move in, which is hurting their ability to get financing for the construction.

Personally, I'd like to see a new stadium in DC. But the mix of DC politics and land rights issues with the Feds just seem unlikely to be overcome in any reasonable time frame. If they can't find something in close, I still think something out near Dulles Airport, maybe the original No Va baseball site; would be their best option long term. Metro will have a stop there by 2016. On a weekend night, the traffic won't be bad for those who want to drive. There likely would be room to build mixed use around the stadium later depending on the site. It's not an ideal central location, but it or something up the 270 corridor in Montgomery County is probably the likeliest chance for anything anytime soon.

On a weekend night, the traffic won't be bad for those who want to drive. There likely would be room to build mixed use around the stadium later depending on the site. It's not an ideal central location, but it or something up the 270 corridor in Montgomery County is probably the likeliest chance for anything anytime soon.

Posted by: thrh1 | May 21, 2009 3:55 PM |

Clearly, you were not on the roads last night. My adventure crossing the bridge into Virginia, seeking a quick route to RFK was chronicled here last night. No doubt, some people might be able to get there easily, but....

@DCUFan -- if you're going to make such sweeping comments about the RFK site, you really need to explain why you think it would such an awful idea. Personally, I think it's the best possible location. What makes a stadium across the river in Anacostia so much better? Closer to you?

The comments by Chang are slightly positive, yet I hate to say this but... I'll believe it when I see it.

DC bent over backwards to provide a state of the art stadium for historically, the worst baseball team in the MLB, and that trend continues. Yet, a premier team in the top american soccer leagues gets deficated on by both DC and MD. The league commisioner saying that the team sticking in DC is in jeapordy makes me very salty.

If we lose United, I just dont know what I'll do.

Though, I do enjoy going to RFK and have found a relatively easy way to get to the stadium that cuts out most of the traffic, by avoiding 66 but for a moment to catch rt 1, I understand that the stadium is costing the team.

1. I'm not so quick to say "don't let the door hit 'ya on the way out Victor". It's true that his insistence on a multi-use development complicated things. But I have nothing against the owners of a business making a profit. Remember, part of what the original plan attractive was that it was MORE than just a stadium. That said, Chang seems like a standup guy and one more interested in owning a soccer team than owning a development of which a stadium is part of it.

2. I hope this development doesn't make the chances of a stadium worse. Think of it this way: Chang has "bought out" McFarlane. You'd think that makes Chang "cash poor" and thus more dependent on a locality to provide funding (or the market to turn around so someone will loan him a lot of money), either circumstance is not likely at present. I don't think McFarlane's departure means a quicker stadium. I do think it reduces the chances of the team moving in the short-term. My take is that McFarlane concluded a stadium isn't possible in the short-term, he couldn't sell the team to someone outside in the short term and didn't want to continue to lose money for the foreseeable future so he bailed.

3. Those who think that the obstacle to a stadium was the multi-use development, think again. When Payne was the CEO, before McFarlane and Chang, he looked into building a stadium in Northern Virginia. It wasn't multi-use, just a stadium, team office and some youth fields/practice facilities. They never reached the funding stage--could get approval from local community groups who fought the presence of a stadium due to noise, lights at night, traffic. That was about 8 years ago--things have only gotten worse.

I am more optimistic about a stadium deal in DC or nearby than I have been in months. Chang's interview takes the asshat "ancillary development" off the table and means this is an owner who doesn't view the team as an real estate development vehicle first and foremost.

The multi-use development was the attractive part of the deal to the few politicians who supported the stadium plan. Taking that out certainly marks the price down for infrastructure improvements in DC, but will that be enough to get more politicians on board or to make it any easier? It can be an "out" for those who were afraid (for their political careers) to support the plan. But I'm just speculating.

Regardless I don't (unfortunately) see DC, MD, VA dirty politician sucking up to build the stadium. If they can't agree to build multi purpose and how can they agree to build just the stadium? I hope I am completely wrong.
But wow what a news today. I am still digesting all these sudden breaking news.

Chang sounds like the real deal...if he's beating the drum with the Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles at gametime it proves his passion for the team and the game. DC politicians had their chance to build a stadium and develop a neighborhood. They missed the boat.

How much of a footprint does a soccer only stadium need? Could the land along the RR tracks across from the Florida Ave Market (behind XM and the Fedex) handle it? On the red line, in DC and not used for anything else.

Isn't it close enough to the 395 underpass, and just off NY Ave to be easily car accessible?

There could easily be a small tailgate lot, but with that kind of location, and the planned streetcar infrastructure, it could be an ideal location. Heck, putting a deck over the tracks there could even be viable. The view from the north stands to the US Capitol would be the envy of Natsville.

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@DCUFan -- if you're going to make such sweeping comments about the RFK site, you really need to explain why you think it would such an awful idea. Personally, I think it's the best possible location. What makes a stadium across the river in Anacostia so much better? Closer to you?
Posted by: fischy
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I think it would be awesome to build at the RFK location, it just is not going to happen without some major changes to how the Federal Gov't and the city manage and plan that site. Fenty has never mentioned it as an option, other than during an Olympics bid (which made sense, they would be allowed to do whatever they want to that site if they had gotten the Olympics), KP has said it's virtually impossible.
It just will not happen, that's my only beef with it being brought up continuously :-)

For closeness to me, I'd prefer it be built west of Dulles - sucks for the team probably, but great for my commute home from the game. The Greenway may go bankrupt without me riding it home after each game, but I guess enough other people would want to take it to get to games to make up for me.

Bread and Butter could mean something like Colorado... which I really liked when I visited last year. The field is wide, there are benches in the corners, and the concessions were everything that you would need. I like the idea of a stadium that serves everyone... from the cheap seats to the corporate suite to the player on the field. I think Colorado does that. If only it were a little closer to the city.

Everyone has just the right answer! But the fact remains that we have no prospect for a stadium. All the high-tech outfits existing along the Dulles Toll Road corridor just waiting for someone to apply a little "come and get me" push. What is wrong with all the impotent federal, state and local politicians? Or for that matter, why should they not go after Mr. Trump! He apparently is interested in sports. There must be hundreds more in the area like him.

Loudoun/Fairfax/Dulles/Route 28 makes good sense to me.

Fellow fans, gnashing of teeth will only give us heart burn. But, please tell me, what have the Redskins, Wizzards, Capitals, Nationals got that creates such empathy and Unites receives such disdain. I do not get it. The one championship team in area deserves better.!